Disposable Portable Food Container Device

ABSTRACT

A disposable portable food container device holds food in a container which can be sealed for transport, reheated, and disposed after use. The device includes a container which is cylindrical having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define an interior space configured for holding food. The container is constructed of a formable metal and an upper edge of the perimeter wall defines an opening into the interior space. A lid has a central portion and a peripheral skirt conformable to extend over and around the upper edge of the perimeter wall wherein the lid sealingly engages the container enclosing the interior space.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to food container devices and more particularlypertains to a new food container device for holding food in a containerwhich can be sealed for transport, reheated, and disposed after use.

2. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a container which is cylindrical having a bottomwall and a perimeter wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardlyfrom the bottom wall to define an interior space configured for holdingfood. The container is constructed of a formable metal and an upper edgeof the perimeter wall defines an opening into the interior space. A lidhas a central portion and a peripheral skirt conformable to extend overand around the upper edge of the perimeter wall wherein the lidsealingly engages the container enclosing the interior space.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a disposable portablefood container device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded top front side perspective view of an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a container of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosuretaken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 but also including a lid of theembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a collective front view of multiple containers consistent withthe disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through6 thereof, a new food container device embodying the principles andconcepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated bythe reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the disposable portable foodcontainer device 10 generally comprises a cylindrical container 12having a bottom wall 14 and a perimeter wall 16 integrally coupled toand extending upwardly from the bottom wall 14 to define an interiorspace 18 configured for holding food. The bottom wall 14 is planar andcircular. The container 12 is constructed of a formable metal such asaluminum foil having sufficient thickness to be formable and inexpensiveto manufacture but generally retain the cylindrical shape during usesimilar to large disposable commercially available roasting and bakingpans. An upper edge 20 of the perimeter wall 16 defines an opening 22into the interior space 18. The perimeter wall 16 has a curved lowersection 24 and a straight upper section 26. The curved lower section 24curves outwardly and upwardly away from a perimeter edge 28 of thebottom wall 14 to the straight upper section 26. The curved lowersection 24 assists in even heat transfer into the container 12 when thecontainer is heated within a pan holding a liquid. Further, theperimeter wall 16 has a consistent thickness wherein the curved lowersection 24 provides for a curved interior surface 30 between the bottomwall 14 and the upper section 26 facilitating removal of food by animplement as no corners are formed in the interior space 18.

A lid 30 has a central portion 32 and a peripheral skirt 34. The centralportion is disc shaped and circular corresponding to the diameter of theperimeter wall 16. The skirt 34 extends from the central portion 32. Theperipheral skirt 34 is conformable to extend over and around the upperedge 18 of the perimeter wall 16 wherein the lid 30 sealingly engagesthe container 12 enclosing the interior space 18. The lid 30 isconstructed of a metal foil such as aluminum or the like. A lip 36extends outwardly from the perimeter wall 16 around the upper edge 18 ofthe perimeter wall 16. The peripheral skirt 34 is coextensive with anouter surface 40 of the lip 36 when the lid 30 is coupled to thecontainer 12.

The container 12 may be provided in a variety of diameters and heightswhile maintaining a generally cylindrical shape to enhance heat transferinto leftover food stored within the interior space 16. The diameter maybe between 10 and 16 centimeters and the height may be between 6 and 15centimeters.

In use, leftover food or prepared food for later use may be positionedin the interior space 18 of the container 12. The lid 30 correspondingto the size of the container 12 is positioned over and aligned with theopening 20. The lid 30 is pressed onto the container 12 wherein theperipheral skirt 34 is engageable to the lip 36 wherein the lid 30 issecured on the container 12. The food within the interior space 18 maythen be stored, transported, and reheated as desired. The device 10 maybe discarded or recycled when use is complete.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A disposable portable food container device comprising: a container,said container being cylindrical having a bottom wall and a perimeterwall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from said bottom wallto define an interior space configured for holding food, said bottomwall being planar, said container being constructed of a formable metal,an upper edge of said perimeter wall defining an opening into saidinterior space, said perimeter wall having a curved lower section and astraight upper section, said curved lower section curving outwardly andupwardly away from a perimeter edge of said bottom wall to said straightupper section, said straight upper section being perpendicular to saidbottom wall; and a lid having a central portion and a peripheral skirtextending from said central portion, said peripheral skirt beingconformable to extend over and around said upper edge of said perimeterwall wherein said lid sealingly engages said container enclosing saidinterior space.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising said lidbeing constructed of a metal foil.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising a lip extending outwardly fromsaid perimeter wall around said upper edge of said perimeter wall.
 6. Adisposable portable food container device comprising: a container, saidcontainer being cylindrical having a bottom wall and a perimeter wallintegrally coupled to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall todefine an interior space configured for holding food, said bottom wallbeing planar, said container being constructed of a formable metal, anupper edge of said perimeter wall defining an opening into said interiorspace, said perimeter wall having a curved lower section and a straightupper section, said curved lower section curving outwardly and upwardlyaway from a perimeter edge of said bottom wall to said straight uppersection, said straight upper section being perpendicular to said bottomwall; a lid having a central portion and a peripheral skirt extendingfrom said central portion, said peripheral skirt being conformable toextend over and around said upper edge of said perimeter wall whereinsaid lid sealingly engages said container enclosing said interior space,said lid being constructed of a metal foil; and a lip extendingoutwardly from said perimeter wall around said upper edge of saidperimeter wall, said peripheral skirt being coextensive with an outersurface of said lip when said lid is coupled to said container.